Fun Home is primarily set during the 1960s and 1970s.
Historical Context of Fun Home's Setting
Alison Bechdel's acclaimed memoir, Fun Home, chronicles her childhood and adolescence, primarily unfolding across the 1960s and 1970s. This pivotal period serves as the backdrop for Bechdel's formative years spent in Pennsylvania.
The narrative delves into her experiences growing up, offering insights into her developing awareness and understanding of her father. During this time, she comes to realize the complexities of his character, extending beyond his outwardly visible roles as an obsessive house renovator and the grim community mortician. The very title, Fun Home, plays on this dual reality, with "Fun" alluding to "Funeral"—a nod to the family's undertaking business. The setting in the latter half of the 20th century is crucial to the memoir's exploration of family dynamics, identity, and the socio-cultural nuances of the era.
